American surgical residencies lasted as long as seven years. Even after enduring those painful, exhausting seven years, one could only become a resident physician first, then spend several more grueling years before becoming an attending physician.
But surgery tested more than a doctor's knowledge and operative experience. It also tested a doctor's stamina and physical strength, because a single operation could easily last several hours. Surgeries lasting more than ten hours, or even dozens of hours, were not uncommon.
That was why a surgeon's prime was so brief. Once they reached a certain age, they had to move into second-line roles or research. Even if they were unwilling, they could not stop their energy and physical strength from declining.
Strange believed his knowledge base was already sufficient, and his talent was exceptional. Yet the damned system forced him to endure years of hardship. During those years, he would have no opportunities to serve as lead surgeon, making it naturally difficult to accumulate surgical experience.
Clinical surgery was a field that relied heavily on operative experience, yet America's medical resources were monopolized by major hospitals and renowned doctors.
For example, New York University Langone Hospital, where Strange worked, was one of the most famous hospitals in the country. The patients who came here were either wealthy or influential.
Would those rich people be willing to let an intern operate on them?
And aside from the wealthy, how many ordinary Americans could afford to visit prestigious hospitals?
This system meant that young interns, who most needed to build surgical experience, had no opportunities to train at all. How were they supposed to gain experience?
The American medical profession also placed particular importance on "pedigree," or rather, one's résumé. After finally securing an internship at Langone Hospital, no one would willingly leave to